The Next CEO

Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) is at the heart of some of the most high-profile CEO appointments - and departures - in the world. The only problem – their clients are the one thing they must never talk about. So, how do we help the C-suite’s best kept secret take centre stage? And how can we correct a media narrative around CEOs which is stuck on dated stereotypes?

Our solution was to create a new storytelling platform - The Next CEO - as the most comprehensive look at the state of CEO turnover, anywhere. Through a combination of public data and proprietary RRA insights, Burson developed a quarterly Index of CEO appointments, departures and leadership trends. RRA’s regional experts tracked where and why CEOs were losing their roles, how the CEO experience was evolving, and started a frank conversation about the unequal experience of women at the top. The Index and annual report have become synonymous with RRA. It is now a core part of how the business shows up with clients, prospects, policy makers and media. It has achieved national and international coverage each quarter and delivered more than 100 pieces of coverage globally. The Next CEO annual report led to a 306% increase in share of voice globally in January 2024 alone, including 12 tier-one pieces and a series of tier 1 media meetings for the global CEO at WEF. It has also yielded over 11,000 visits to the report and Index on the firm’s website